EILEEN GLEESON has become a grandmother.
The former Republic of Ireland manager announced the news on Twitter alongside pics of the newborn baby.
She said: “Proud to share that I am now the proud co-grandparent with @Aisling42755948 of this little beauty Croía Aisling
“Congratulations and well done to @Alionei08679419 for cooking her up so well 
Already in her Ireland gear 
”
Gleeson has been out of the managerial seat since her contract as Ireland boss was not renewed in the wake of the Euro 2025 play-off loss to Wales.
As a result of taking the role in the first place, she vacated her role as Head of Women and Girls’ Football.
Hannah Dingley was appointed as her successor last April.
It had been reported that some candidates for the role were put off because there was no permanent contract on offer as it was believed Gleeson would have the option of returning to her previous role.
An FAI spokesperson confirmed that Gleeson was still working for the Association, although did not reveal in which role other than her not working with Dingley.
The topic was put to Dingley during her first appearance in front of media last month at the Mansion House in Dublin.
Asked if they were working together, Dingley said: “That’s an ongoing situation that I don’t know anything about.”
Asked if she would like to work with her, she added: “I had the opportunity of working with Eileen when she was a coach.
“She was a great help when I first started the role, a great support.”
Gleeson was succeeded as Ireland head coach by Carla Ward, who has had an uneven start to the job.
Her first match was a 1-0 win over Turkey, but was followed by a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Slovenia.
Gleeson appeared to have been watching the game as she shared a cryptic social media post in the wake of the defeat.
In apparent reaction, she quoted an excerpt from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance (1974) by Robert Pirsig.
The quote goes as follows: “If a factory is torn down but the rationality which produced it is left standing, then that rationality will simply produce another factory.
“If a revolution destroys a government, but the systematic patterns of thought that produced that government are left intact, then those patterns will repeat themselves…
“There’s so much talk about the system. And so little understanding.”
